Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5200 .B352 1835 v1

140 LIFE OF RICHARD BAXTER. with the men he was going to encounter ; and as these officers were generally Anabaptists, the Presbyterians began to hope that covenant uniformity would come again out of Scotland in its former glory. The parliament hoped for another restoration of their power; for he had acknowledged their recent authority, and now .he seemed to espouse their quarrel. The cavaliers hoped that either by negotiation he might be persuaded, or by the force of circumstances he might be compelled, to declare for their cause. Lambert, who, in talent and influence, was the head of the new government, marched with a great part of the army to repel this invasion. But every where he found the passions and hopes of the people against him. His own soldiers soon began to desert him. The regiments left in London revolted; and, supported by them, the Rumponce more resumed the government of the three nations. But after the ostensible object with which Monk commencedhis march into England was already attained, he still continued to advance with all his forces, not waiting for any orders from the restored parliament. The Rump, though, not fully assured of his fidelity to them, could not venture to order back their deliverer into his own province. They therefore only expressed their desire that, a good part of his forces might be sent back into Scotland. He complied with that request; but still continued his progress with about five thousand men, on whom he knewhe could depend. The people were generally in his favor; and he encountered no opposition. It was widely understood that he was in favor of a new and free parliament; though all his public declarations were full of fidelity to the parliament then existing.' When he had arrived within twenty or thirty miles of London, he sent a message to the parliament, requesting that the regiments then quartered about thecity might be withdrawn, lest there should fall out some collision between them and, his troops. With this request they were constrained to comply ; and on the third of Febrdary, 1660, Monk, it the head of his army, entered the metropolis as in triumph, and quartered with his troops fn Westminster. After . a few days of indecision, the general declared himself openly for the Presbyterian interest, and for a commonwealth in which there should be neither king nor protector, nor house of lords; and, supported by his authority, those members who were excluded in 1648, again took their seats in parliament. The ma- jority of the house were nowPresbyterians ; and, as Presbyterians, they began to take measures which looked toward the restoration of the monarchy, on such terms and with such limitationsas should be agreeable to their party. They appointed a new council of state forthe temporary administration of the government; and, on

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=